FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to ballistics protection apparatuses, and
more particularly to a modular armor system.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Armor panels are widely used to protect vehicles (e.g., land assault vehicles, personnel
carriers, aircraft, naval ships) and other structures (e.g., buildings, bunkers, barricades)
against ballistics, such as projectiles and shrapnel, and percussive waves, such as
from nearby explosions. Conventional armor panels are either permanently integrated
into the vehicles or other structure or semi-permanently attached to the vehicle or
other structure. Typically, conventional armor panels are either bolted through holes
in the vehicle or structure or mounted within c-channel members attached to the vehicle
or other structure. Accordingly, it may be difficult and time-consuming to install
conventional armor panels. The difficult and time-consuming nature of installing conventional
armor panels also adds to the overall cost of the vehicle, which may limit the number
of vehicles that receive armor protection. Additionally, conventional armor panels
are not readily removable from vehicles or other structures. Thus, vehicles may remain
equipped with conventional armor panels even when the vehicle is not in a combat zone,
thereby unnecessarily reducing the maneuverability and fuel efficiency of the vehicle.
Moreover, due to the permanent or semi-permanent installation of conventional armor
panels, conventional armor panels are not easily salvaged for reuse in new vehicles
or other structures
WO 2009/045243 teaches an armor system of the known art.
SUMMARY
[0003] The present invention is a modular armor system according to claim 1 and an armored
vehicle according to claim 4.
[0004] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described
below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key or
essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in
limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] Embodiments of modular armor systems according to the present disclosure are described
with reference to the following figures. The same reference numerals are used throughout
the figures to reference like features and components. The figures are not necessarily
drawn to scale.
FIG. 1A is a front perspective view of a modular armor system not according to the
invention;
FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the modular armor system of FIG. 1A;
FIG. 2A is a front perspective view of a modular armor system according to the invention;
FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the modular armor system of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 3A is a rear perspective view of a modular armor system not according to the
invention;
FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the modular armor system of FIG. 3A; and
FIG. 4 is a cross-section view of a modular armor system not according to the invention;
FIG. 5 is a cross-section view of a modular armor system not according to the invention;
and
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a modular armor system not according to
the invention configured to be attached to a windshield of an armored vehicle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0006] The present disclosure is directed to embodiments of modular armor systems having
an attachment mechanism configured to enable the modular armor systems to be readily
attached and detached to a vehicle (e.g., armored assault vehicle, personnel carrier,
military aircraft, or naval ship) or any other structure requiring ballistics protection,
such as a building or a structural barrier (e.g., a barricade). Embodiments of the
modular armor systems of the present disclosure are configured to absorb the kinetic
energy of high-powered and/or low-powered projectiles striking the armor systems.
Embodiments of the modular armor systems are also configured to deflect percussive
energy, such as a shock wave, and thereby protect the individuals inside the building
or the vehicle's cabin against nearby explosives or other concussive devices. Additionally,
the modular armor systems of the present disclosure are configured to be detachably
installed on the inside of the vehicle's or building's windows. Providing the modular
armor systems on the insides of the windows provides ballistic protection against
both munitions and shattered glass penetrating into the building or the vehicle's
cabin. Alternatively, the modular armor systems of the present disclosure may be provided
on the outside of the vehicle's or building's windows. The modular armor systems of
the present disclosure may also be provided on non-transparent surfaces of a vehicle
or other structure (e.g., the modular armor systems may be coupled to an inner and/or
outer surface of an outer skin or panel of an armored vehicle). The modular armor
systems of the present disclosure may be configured to provide any desired ballistics
protection rating, such as, for instance, a level of ballistics protection in conformity
with one or more of the standards promulgated by the National Institute of Justice
("NIJ") (e.g., NIJ Level I to IV or NIJ Standard 0108.01), the Home Office Scientific
Development Branch (HOSDB), NATO Standardization Agreement ("STANAG") (e.g.,
STANAG AEP 55, Volume 1), Underwriters Laboratory ("UL") (e.g., UL-752), EuroNorm (e.g., EuroNorm 1063),
Association of Test Laboratories for Bullet Resistant Materials and Constructions
(VPAM) (e.g.,
VPAM APR 2006), and/or any custom criteria, by selecting the appropriate combination of materials
and thicknesses, as described below.
[0007] With reference now to FIGs. 1A and 1B, a modular armor system
10 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated. The modular
armor system
10 includes a ballistics-grade armor panel
11 having an outer strike face
12 and an inner surface
13 opposite the outer strike face
12. In the illustrated embodiment, the armor panel
11 is a rectangular prism having a pair of opposing sides
14, 15 and a pair of opposing upper and lower sides
16, 17, respectively. In one or more alternate embodiments, the armor panel
11 may have any other suitable shape, such as, for instance, circular, trapezoidal,
triangular, or even irregularly shaped, depending upon the shape of the windows in
the vehicle or structure in which the modular armor system
10 is intended to be installed. Additionally, in one embodiment, the armor panel
11 may be configured to substantially match the shape and size of the windows in the
vehicle or other structure to which the modular armor system
10 is intended to be installed. In alternate embodiments, the armor panel
11 may be smaller or larger than the windows in the vehicle or other structure.
[0008] With continued reference to the embodiment illustrated in FIGs. 1A and 1B, the modular
armor system
10 also includes a hook or loop type fastening member
18 bonded to the outer strike surface
12 of the armor panel
11 with a layer of adhesive
19. In one or more alternate embodiments, the hook or loop type fastening member
18 may be coupled to the outer strike surface
12 of the armor panel
19 by any other suitable mechanism, such as, for instance, with mechanical fasteners.
As illustrated in FIG. 1B, the hook or loop fastening member
18 is configured to be releasably secured to a corresponding loop or hook type fastening
member
20. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1B, the corresponding loop or hook type fastening
member
20 is bonded to a frame
21 surrounding a window
22 in a vehicle or other structure, such as a building. Together, the hook and loop
fastening members
18, 20 are configured to detachably couple the armor panel
11 to the frame
21 surrounding the window
22, thereby protecting individuals inside the building or the vehicle's cabin against
projectiles striking the window
22. In one embodiment, the modular armor system
10 includes a hook type fastening member
18 and the vehicle or other structure includes a corresponding loop type fastening member
20. In an alternate embodiment, the modular armor system
10 may include a loop type fastening member
20 and the vehicle or other structure may include a corresponding hook type fastening
member
18. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1A, the hook or loop fastening mechanism
18 extends continuously around a periphery of the outer strike face
12 of the armor panel
11 and the corresponding loop or hook fastening member
20 extends continuously around the frame
21 surrounding the window
22. It will be appreciated, however, that the hook or loop fastening mechanism
18 may be disposed only in discrete portions of the periphery of the armor panel, such
as, for example, in corners of the outer strike face
12 of the armor panel
11. Moreover, although the hook or loop fastening mechanism
18 in the illustrated embodiment is adjacent to each of the sides
14, 15, 16, 17 of the armor panel
11, in one or more alternate embodiments, the hook or loop fastening mechanism
18 may be spaced apart from the sides
14, 15, 16, 17 of the armor panel
11 by any suitable distance, such as, for instance, from approximately 1/2 inch to approximately
2 inches depending upon the configuration of the window. Additionally, in one or more
embodiments, the hook or loop type fastening member
18 may also be coupled to one or more of the sides
14, 15, 16, 17 of the armor panel
11 and/or to the inner surface
13 of the armor panel
11 (e.g., the hook or loop type fastening member
18 may extend from the outer strike face
12, around the sides
14, 15, 16, 17 of the armor panel
11, and onto the inner surface
13 of the armor panel
11). In one embodiment, the hook or loop type fastening member
18 may extend continuously from the outer strike face
12 to the inner surface
13. In one or more embodiments the hook or loop type fastening member
18 may be include a series of discrete hook or loop type fastening members
18 on the outer strike face
12, the one or more sides
14, 15, 16, 17, and the inner surface
13. The hook or loop type fastening member
18 may be coupled to one or more of the sides
14, 15, 16, 17 and/or to the inner surface
13 of the armor panel
11 in the same or similar manner that the hook or loop type fastening member
18 is coupled to the outer strike face
12. In one or more embodiments, the corresponding loop or hook type fastening member
20 on the frame
21 may be configured to extend around one or more of the sides
14, 15, 16, 17 of the armor panel
11 and onto the inner surface
13 of the armor panel
11. Accordingly, in one or more embodiments, the loop or hook type fastening member
20 on the frame
21 may be configured to be detachably coupled to the hook or loop type fastening member
18 on the outer strike surface
12, the one or more sides
14, 15, 16, 17, and the inner surface
13 of the armor panel
11. Providing the hook or loop type fastening member
18 on one or more of the sides
14, 15, 16, 17 and/or on the inner surface
13 in addition to outer strike face
12 may provide the modular armor system
10 with additional strength to withstand ballistic strikes and/or percussive blasts.
In one or more embodiments, the hook or loop type fastening member
18 may be provided on one or more of the sides
14, 15, 16, 17 and/or on the inner surface
13 instead of the outer strike surface
12. Although only a single modular armor system
10 is illustrated installed around a single window
22, it will be appreciated that additional modular armor systems
10 may be installed around other windows in the vehicle or other structure in the same
or similar manner described above.
[0009] The modular armor system
10 may include any suitable hook or loop fastening mechanism
18 configured to maintain the attachment between modular armor system
10 and the frame
21 of the vehicle or other structure when the armor panel
11 is struck by high-powered projectiles and/or percussive blasts. In one embodiment,
the modular armor system
10 includes a hook fastening mechanism
18 having a series of single-filament 4 mil stainless steel hooks
23 disposed on a woven polymer base
24. In one embodiment, each of the hooks
23 are approximately 2.35 mm wide and approximately 90 mils (2.3 mm) tall, although
the hooks
23 may have any other suitable width and height. Additionally, the base
24 of the hook fastening mechanism
18 may be made from any other suitable materials, such as, for instance, metal, polyester,
polyamide, polyethylene, or a combination of polyester and polypropylene. Additionally,
as illustrated in FIG. 1A, the hook or loop fastening mechanism
18 may have any suitable width
W, such as, for example, from approximately 1/4 inch to approximately 3 inches, depending
upon the ballistics protection rating of the modular armor system
10. In one embodiment, the width
W of the hook or loop fastening mechanism
18 adhered to the armor panel
11 is approximately 1 inch. In general, armor panels
11 having higher ballistics ratings require hook and loop fastening mechanisms
18 having relatively greater widths
W compared to armor panels
11 having relatively lower ballistics ratings. Additionally, in one embodiment, the
hook and loop fastening mechanisms
18 have a shear strength of approximately 15.8 pounds per square inch ("psi"), as determined
by testing standard ASTM 5169, a traction strength of approximately 6.4 psi, and a
peel strength of approximately 1.4 pounds per inch of width ("piw"), as determined
by testing standard ASTM 5170. It will be appreciated, however, that the hook and
loop fastening mechanisms
18 of the present disclosure are not limited to the performance characteristics recited
above, and the hook and loop fastening mechanisms
18 may have any other suitable performance characteristics depending upon the intended
use for the modular armor system
10 and the desired ballistics protection rating of the armor panel
11 (e.g., the desired NIJ, HOSDB, STANAG, UL, EuroNorm, VPAM, or custom level of ballistics
protection). For instance, in one embodiment, the hook and loop fastening mechanisms
18 may have a shear strength greater than 15.8 psi, a traction strength greater than
6.4 psi, and/or a peel strength greater than 1.4 piw.
[0010] Still referring to the embodiment illustrated in FIGs. 1A and 1B, the ballistics-grade
armor panel
11 may be either transparent or opaque depending upon the intended application of the
modular armor system
10. For instance, the armor panel
11 may be transparent when the modular armor system
10 is configured to cover windows in a vehicle or other structure and visibility through
the armor panel
11 is desired. The armor panel
11 may be opaque when the modular armor system
10 is configured to be incorporated into a structural barrier or other structure where
visibility through the structure is not desired or required. The transparent armor
panel
11 may be composed of any suitable material configured to absorb and deflect kinetic
energy and percussive energy, such as, for example, glass, interlayer, acrylic, polycarbonate,
plastic, transparent ceramic, ionomers, ionoplasts, or any combinations thereof. In
one embodiment, the ballistics-grade armor panel
11 includes a stack of alternating glass layers and interlayers. In another embodiment,
the ballistics-grade armor panel
11 includes a stack of alternating glass layers and interlayers and a polycarbonate
layer substituting for one or more of the glass layers. The opaque armor panel
11 may be composed of any suitable ballistics-grade material, such as, for example,
metal (e.g., steel, titanium), metal alloys, ceramic, composite (e.g., carbon fiber
reinforced plastic), aramids (i.e., synthetic fibers), or any combinations thereof.
[0011] As illustrated in FIGs. 1A and 1B, the ballistics-grade armor panel
11 may have any suitable thickness
T depending upon the desired ballistics protection rating of the modular armor system
10. In one embodiment, the thickness
T of the ballistics-grade armor panel
11 is from approximately 1/2 inch to approximately 3 inches. In one embodiment, a 1-1/8
inch thick armor panel
11 (e.g., a 1-1/8 inch thick glass, acrylic, and polycarbonate armor panel
11) is configured to provide NIJ Level IIIA ballistic protection. It will be appreciated
that the thickness
T of the ballistics-grade armor panel
11 is not limited to the thickness
T recited above, and the ballistics-grade armor panel
11 may have any other suitable thickness T depending upon the desired ballistics protection
rating of the armor panel
11 and still fall within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.
[0012] In one embodiment, the adhesive layer
19 coupling the hook or loop fastening mechanism
18 to the ballistics-grade panel
11 is a thermoplastic or thermoset material (e.g., an aliphatic polyurethane sheet).
The thermoplastic or thermoset adhesive layer
19 is configured to laminate the hook or loop fastening mechanism
18 to the ballistic-grade armor panel
11 when subject to elevated temperatures and pressures in an autoclave lamination process
or any other suitable process. During the autoclave lamination process, the thermoplastic
or thermoset adhesive layer
19 is drawn into the fibers in the woven base layer
24 of the hook or loop fastening member
18, thereby adhering the hook or loop fastening member
18 to the armor panel
11 (i.e., the adhesive
19 is infused into the woven base layer
24 of the hook or loop fastening member
18 due to the elevated temperature and pressure during the autoclave lamination process,
thereby laminating the hook or loop fastening member
18 to the ballistic-grade armor panel
11). In one embodiment, the thermoplastic or thermoset adhesive layer
19 (e.g., aliphatic polyurethane) is configured to laminate the hook or loop fastening
mechanism
18 to the ballistic-grade armor panel
11 when subject to a temperature of at least approximately 180°F and a pressure of at
least approximately 20 psi. In another embodiment, the adhesive layer
19 is configured to laminate the hook or loop fastening mechanism
18 to the ballistic-grade armor panel
11 when subject to a temperature of at least approximately 145°F and a pressure of at
least approximately 20 psi. It will be appreciated by a person of ordinary skill in
the art that the adhesive layer
19 may be configured to laminate the hook or loop fastening mechanism
18 to the ballistic-grade armor panel
11 when subject to other suitable combinations of temperature and pressure.
[0013] In one embodiment, the aliphatic polyurethane adhesive layer
19 has a specific gravity of approximately 1.08, as determined by testing standard ASTM
D-792, a hardness of 80 Shore A, as determined by testing standard ASTM D-2240, a
tensile strength of 5345 psi, as determined by testing standard ASTM D412C, a modulus
of elasticity at 100% elongation of approximately 460 psi, as determined by testing
standard ASTM D412C, a modular of elasticity at 300% of approximately 1750 psi, as
determined by testing standard ASTM D412C, an ultimate elongation of approximately
450%, as determined by testing standard ASTM D412C, and a tear strength of approximately
320 pounds per linear inch ("pli"), as determined by testing ASTM D624C. In another
embodiment, the aliphatic polyurethane adhesive layer
19 has a specific gravity of approximately 1.08, a hardness of 80 Shore A, a tensile
strength of 5010 psi, a modulus of elasticity at 100% elongation of approximately
465 psi, a modulus of elasticity at 300% elongation of approximately 1760 psi, an
ultimate elongation of approximately 450%, and a tear strength of approximately 320
pli. In a further embodiment, the aliphatic polyurethane adhesive layer
19 has a specific gravity of approximately 1.08, a hardness of 67 Shore A, a tensile
strength of 4600 psi, a modulus of elasticity at 100% elongation of approximately
268 psi, a modulus of elasticity at 300% elongation of approximately 491 psi, an ultimate
elongation of approximately 550%, and a tear strength of approximately 300 pli. In
yet another embodiment, the aliphatic polyurethane adhesive layer
19 has a specific gravity of approximately 1.08, a hardness of 64 Shore A, a tensile
strength of 3500 psi, a modulus of elasticity at 100% elongation of approximately
350 psi, a modulus of elasticity at 300% elongation of approximately 630 psi, an ultimate
elongation of approximately 600%, and a tear strength of approximately 260 pli. Suitable
polyurethanes are not limited to the material properties listed above, and suitable
polyurethanes for laminating the hook or loop fastening mechanism
18 to the ballistics-grade armor panel
11 may have any other suitable material properties. For instance, in one embodiment,
the adhesive layer
19 may have a specific gravity greater than 1.08, a hardness greater than 80 Shore A,
a tensile strength greater than 5345 psi, a modulus of elasticity at 100% elongation
greater than 465 psi, a modulus of elasticity at 300% elongation greater than 1760
psi, an ultimate, elongation greater than 600%, and/or a tear strength greater than
320 pli. Additionally, suitable adhesives are not limited to polyurethanes. Depending
upon the material composition of the armor panel
11, the adhesive layer
19 may be composed of any other materials, such as, for instance, silicone adhesives,
UV curable adhesives, urethane adhesives, or polyvinyl butyral adhesives (e.g., polyvinyl
butyral plasticized with dihexyl adipate ordibutyl sebacate), suitable for bonding
to the armor panel 11.
[0014] With reference now to FIGs. 2A and 2B, a modular armor system
100 according to the invention is illustrated. In the illustrated embodiment, the modular
armor system
100 includes a ballistics-grade armor panel
101 having an outer strike face
102 and an inner surface
103 opposite the outer strike face
102. In the illustrated embodiment, the armor panel
101 is a rectangular prism having a pair of opposing sides
104, 105 and a pair of upper and lower sides
106, 107, respectively. In alternate embodiments, the armor panel
101 may have any other suitable shape, such as, for instance, circular, trapezoidal,
triangular, or even irregularly shaped, depending upon the shape of the windows in
the vehicle or other structure in which the modular armor system
100 is intended to be installed. As described above with reference to FIGs. 1A and 1B,
the armor panel
101 may be composed of either transparent materials (e.g., glass, interlayer, acrylic,
polycarbonate, plastic, transparent ceramic, ionomers, ionoplasts, or any combinations
thereof) or opaque materials (e.g., metal, such as steel or titanium, metal alloys,
ceramics, composites, such as carbon fiber reinforced plastic, synthetic fibers, or
any combinations thereof) depending upon the intended application of the modular armor
system
100. Additionally, as described above, the armor panel
101 may have any suitable thickness depending upon the desired ballistics protection
rating of the armor panel
101, such as, for instance, from approximately 1/2 inch to approximately 3 inches.
[0015] Still referring to FIGs. 2A and 2B, the armor panel
101 includes a step or recess
108 extending inward from the outer strike face
102 toward the inner surface
103. In the illustrated embodiment, the step
108 extends continuously around the entire periphery of the armor panel
101 (i.e., the step
108 extends continuously along all four sides
104, 105, 106, 107 of the armor panel
101). In one or more alternate embodiments, the step
108 may extend around less than all of the sides
104, 105, 106, 107 of the armor panel
101, such as, for instance, along the upper and lower sides
106, 107 of the armor panel
101. The step
108 in the armor panel
101 defines an intermediate surface
109 disposed between the outer strike face
102 and the inner surface
103, the significance of which is described below.
[0016] In the illustrated embodiment of FIGs. 2A and 2B, the modular armor system
100 also includes a plurality of hook or loop type fastening tabs
110 bonded along the intermediate surface
109 of the armor panel
101 with a layer of adhesive
111. The hook or loop fastening tabs
110 are configured to be releasably secured to corresponding loop or hook type fastening
members
112 bonded to a frame or border
113 around a window
114 in a vehicle or other structure, as illustrated in FIG. 2B. Additionally, a portion
of each of the hook or loop type fastening tabs
110 extends beyond the respective sides
104, 105, 106, 107 of the ballistics-grade armor panel
101 (i.e., a portion of each of the hook or loop type fastening tabs
110 disposed along the sides
104, 105, 106, 107 of the ballistics-grade armor panel
101 overhangs the sides
104, 105, 106, 107 of the ballistics-grade armor panel
101, respectively). The overhanging hook or loop fastening tabs
110 are configured to enable the modular armor system
100 to be detachably attached to an asymmetric or irregularly-shaped frame
113 (i.e., the overhanging hook or loop fastening tabs
110 are configured to enable the fastening tabs
110 to conform to the organic shape of the frame
113 surrounding the window
114 in the vehicle or other structure). Accordingly, the modular armor system
100 may be releasably attached to a frame and a corresponding window that do not match
the shape and size of the armor panel
101. The hook or loop fastening tabs
110 may be the same or similar to the hook or loop fastening members
18 described above with reference to FIGs. 1A and 1B. For instance, in one embodiment,
the hook fastening tabs
110 each include a series of single-filament 4 mil stainless steel hooks disposed on
a woven polymer base. Moreover, although the modular armor system
100 in the illustrated embodiment of FIGs. 2A and 2B includes a plurality of separate
hook or loop fastening tabs
110, in an alternate embodiment not according to the invention, the modular armor system
100 may include a single, continuous hook or loop fastening member extending around the
periphery of the armor panel
101. Additionally, the adhesive layer
111 may be the same or similar to the adhesive layer
19 described above with reference to FIGs. 1A and 1B. The adhesive layer
111 is configured to laminate the hook or loop fastening tabs 110 to the ballistic-grade
armor panel
101 when subject to elevated temperatures and pressures during an autoclave lamination
process or any other suitable process. In one or more alternate embodiments not according
to the invention, the hook or loop fastening tabs
110 may not overhang one or more of the sides
104, 105, 106, 107 of the ballistics-grade armor panel
101 (i.e., the hook or loop fastening tabs
110 may not extend beyond one or more of the sides
104, 105, 106, 107 of the ballistics-grade armor panel
101). Additionally, in one or more embodiments, the hook or loop type fastening tabs
110 may also be coupled to one or more of the sides
104, 105, 106, 107 of the armor panel
101 and/or to the inner surface
103 of the armor panel
101. In one or more embodiments, the hook or loop type fastening tabs
110 on the inner surface
103 may overhang (i.e., extend beyond) one or more of the sides
104, 105, 106, 107 of the armor panel
101. In one or more embodiments, the hook or loop type fastening tabs
110 on the inner surface
103 may not extend beyond the sides
104, 105, 106, 107 of the armor panel
101. The hook or loop type fastening tabs
110 may be coupled to one or more of the sides
104, 105, 106, 107 and/or to the inner surface
103 of the armor panel
101 in the same or similar manner that the hook and loop type fastening tabs
110 are coupled to the intermediate surface
109 of the armor panel
101. In one or more embodiments, the corresponding loop or hook type fastening members
112 on the frame
113 may be configured to extend around one or more of the sides
104, 105, 106, 107 of the armor panel
101 and onto the inner surface
103 of the armor panel
103. Accordingly, in one or more embodiments, the loop or hook type fastening members
112 on the frame
113 may be configured to be detachably coupled to the hook or loop type fastening tabs
110 on the intermediate surface
109, the one or more sides
104, 105, 106, 107, and the inner surface
103 of the armor panel
101. Providing the hook or loop type fastening tabs
110 on one or more of the sides
104, 105, 106, 107 and/or on the inner surface
103 in addition to the intermediate surface
109 may provide the modular armor system
100 with additional strength to withstand ballistic strikes and/or percussive blasts.
In one or more embodiments not according to the invention, the hook or loop type fastening
tabs
110 may be provided on one or more of the sides
104, 105, 106, 107 and/or on the inner surface
103 instead of the intermediate surface
109.
[0017] As illustrated in FIG. 2B, the step
108 in the periphery of the armor panel 101 is configured to enable the outer strike
face
102 of the armor panel
101 to abut, or be closely spaced apart from, the window
114 in the vehicle or other structure (i.e., the step
108 in the armor panel
101 is configured to receive at least a portion of the frame
113 surrounding the window
114 such that outer strike face
102 of the armor panel
101 abuts, or is closely spaced apart from, the window
114). Based upon the thickness
F of the frame
113 and the combined thickness
HL of the hook and loop fastening members
110, 112, the depth
D of the step
108 in the armor panel
101 may be selected to achieve the desired spacing between the outer strike face
102 of the armor panel
101 and the window
114. For instance, in one embodiment, the depth
D of the step
108 in the armor panel
101 is substantially equal to the combined thickness
F of the frame
113 surrounding the window
114 and the thickness
HL of the hook and loop fastening member
110, 112 such that the outer strike surface
102 of the armor panel
101 abuts the window
114. In another embodiment, depth
D of the step
108 in the armor panel
101 is slightly less than the combined thickness
F of the frame
113 and the thickness
HL of hook and loop fastening members
110, 112, such as, for instance, approximately 0.1 inch less than the combined thickness
F of the frame
113 and the thickness
HL of hook and loop fastening members
110, 112, such that the outer strike face
102 of the armor panel
101 is spaced apart from the window
114 by a desired distance, such as, for instance, approximately 0.1 inch.
[0018] With reference now to FIGs. 3A and 3B, a modular armor system
200 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated. In the
illustrated embodiment, the modular armor system
200 includes a ballistics-grade armor panel
201 having an outer strike face
202 and an inner surface
203 opposite the outer strike face
202. In the illustrated embodiment, the armor panel
201 is a rectangular prism having a pair of opposing sides
204, 205 and a pair of opposing upper and lower sides
206, 207, respectively. In alternate embodiments, the armor panel
201 may have any other suitable shape, such as, for instance, circular, trapezoidal,
triangular, or even irregularly shaped, depending upon the shape of the windows in
the vehicle or structure in which the modular armor system is intended to be installed.
As described above with reference to FIGs. 1A and 1B, the armor panel
201 may be composed of either transparent materials (e.g., glass, interlayer, acrylic,
polycarbonate, plastic, transparent ceramic, ionomers, ionoplasts, or any combinations
thereof) or opaque materials (e.g., metal, such as steel or titanium, metal alloys,
ceramics, composites, such as carbon fiber reinforced plastic, aramids (i.e., synthetic
fibers), or any combinations thereof) depending upon the intended application of the
modular armor system
200. Additionally, as described above with reference to FIGs. 1A and 1B, the armor panel
201 may have any suitable thickness depending upon the desired ballistics protection
rating of the armor panel
201, such as, for instance, from approximately 1/2 inch to approximately 3 inches.
[0019] With continued reference to FIGs. 3A and 3B, the ballistics-grade armor panel
201 includes a plurality of openings
208 and a corresponding plurality of bushings
209 received in the openings
208. In the illustrated embodiment, the openings
208 are circular holes and the bushings
209 are thin-walled cylinders. In one or more alternate embodiments, the openings
208 in the armor panel
201 may have any other suitable shape, such as, for instance, square, rectangular, or
oval, and the bushings
209 may have any corresponding shape configured to match the shape of the openings
208. Although in the illustrated embodiment, the modular armor system
200 includes four openings
208 and four corresponding bushings
209, the modular armor system
200 may have any other suitable number of openings
208 and corresponding bushings
209, such as, for example, two to ten. Additionally, although in the illustrated embodiment
the openings
208 and bushings
209 are located proximate to corners
210 of the armor panel
201, the openings
208 and bushings
209 may be located at any other suitable positions, such as, for example, along all four
sides
204, 205, 206, 207 of the armor panel
201 or along only the upper and lower sides
206, 207 of the armor panel
201. In one embodiment, an inner dimension of the openings
208 is substantially equal to an outer dimension of the bushings
209 such that the bushings
209 are configured to be received in the openings
208 with a press-fit connection (i.e., a friction fit connection). In an alternate embodiment,
the outer dimension of the openings
208 may be slightly larger than the outer dimension of bushings
209, and the bushings
209 may be bonded into the openings
208 with any suitable adhesive, such as, for instance, silicone adhesive or UV curable
adhesive. In another embodiment, an outer surface of the bushings
209 may include threads and an inner surface of the openings
208 may include corresponding threads such that the bushings may be threaded into the
openings
208 in the armor panel
201.
[0020] With continued reference to the embodiment illustrated in FIGs. 3A and 3B, the modular
armor system
200 includes a plurality of quick-release mechanisms
211 configured to detachably couple the ballistics-grade armor panel
201 to a vehicle or other structure. Each quick-release mechanism
211 is configured to move between an engaged position in which the ballistics-grade panel
201 is detachably coupled to the vehicle or other structure and a disengaged position
in which the ballistics-grade panel
201 may be detached and removed from the vehicle or other structure. Accordingly, the
quick-release mechanisms
211 of the present disclosure are configured to facilitate rapid installation and removal
of the armor panel
201 from a vehicle or other structure.
[0021] As illustrated in FIG. 3B, each quick-release mechanism
211 is a quick-release skewer assembly including a female member
212, a male member
213 configured to be threadedly received in the female member
212, a spring-loaded nut
214, and a cam lever
215. In one embodiment, the female member
212 is a cylindrical tube having a threaded inner bore
216. Additionally, in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 3B, an outer end
217 of the female member
212 is affixed to a frame
218 surrounding a window
219 in a vehicle or other structure. The female member may be affixed to the frame
218 by any suitable means, such as, for instance, bonding, welding, or mechanical fastening.
In an alternate embodiment, the female member
212 may be detachably coupled to the frame
218, such as, for instance, by fasteners.
[0022] With continued reference to FIG. 3B, the male member
213 is a cylindrical rod having an inner end
220 and an outer end
221 opposite the inner end
220. The male member
213 also includes outer threads
222 such that the male member
213 may be coupled to the female member
212 by threading the male member
213 into the threaded inner bore
216 in the female member
212. Together, the male and female members
213, 212 are configured to extend through the openings
208 in the armor panel
201.
[0023] Still referring to FIG. 3B, the spring-loaded nut
214 is slidably attached to the inner end
220 of the male member
213. The spring-loaded nut
214 is configured to slide between an engaged position and a disengaged position. In
the engaged position, a portion of the nut
214 presses against the inner surface
203 of the ballistics-grade armor panel
201 and thereby secures the ballistics-grade armor panel
201 to the frame
218 of the vehicle or other structure. In the disengaged position, the spring-loaded
nut
214 is spaced apart from the inner surface
203 of the armor panel
201, which facilitates detachment of the armor panel
201 from the frame
218, as described in detail below. It will be appreciated that the spring-loaded nut
214 is larger than the openings in the bushings
209 such that the armor panel
201 is retained by the spring-loaded nuts
214 on the quick-release skewers
211. Additionally, a spring (not shown) is configured to bias the nut
214 into the disengaged position (i.e., the spring is configured to bias the nut
214 toward the inner end
220 of the male member
213).
[0024] As illustrated in FIG. 3B, the cam lever
215 is pivotally attached to the inner end
220 of the male member
213 and the spring-loaded nut
214 is disposed between the cam lever
215 and the outer end
221 of the male member
213. The cam lever
215 is configured to pivot (arrow
223) between an engaged position (shown in solid lines in FIG. 3B) and a disengaged position
(shown in dashed lines in FIG. 3B). In the engaged position, an eccentric cam
224 on the cam lever
215 is configured to force the spring-loaded nut
214 outward along the male member
213 and into the engaged position (i.e., the eccentric cam
224 is configured to overcome the biasing force of the spring). In the disengaged position,
the eccentric cam
224 disengages the spring-loaded nut
214, thereby allowing the spring to force the spring-loaded nut
214 back into the disengaged position.
[0025] To removably attach the armor panel
201 illustrated in FIGs. 3A and 3B to the frame
218 surrounding the window
219 in the vehicle or other structure, the female members
212 are first coupled to the frame
218 by any suitable means, such as, for instance, mechanical fastening, welding, bonding,
or any combination thereof. The ballistics-grade armor panel
201 may then be positioned such that the female members
212 extend into the openings
208 and the corresponding bushings
209 in the ballistics-grade panel
201. Once the female members
212 are received in the openings
208 and the bushings
209 in the ballistics-grade armor panel
201, the male members
213 of the quick-release skewers
211 may then be threaded into the threaded inner bores
216 in the female members
212 until the spring-loaded nuts
214 abut, or are closely spaced apart from, the inner surface
203 of the ballistics-grade armor panel
201. The extent to which the male members
213 must be threaded into the female members
212 depends on length of the male and female members
213, 212 and the thickness of the ballistics-grade armor panel
201. The male members
213 may be threaded into the female members
212 by rotating the cam levers
215, which are connected to the inner ends
220 of the male members
213, in a clockwise direction. The cam levers
215 may then be pivoted (arrow
223) into the engaged position (shown in solid lines in FIG. 3B) by applying sufficient
force to overcome the force of the springs biasing the nuts
214 into the disengaged position. As the cam levers
215 are pivoted (arrow
223) into the engaged position, the eccentric cams
224 on the cam levers
215 force the nuts
214 to slide outward along the male members
213 and press against the inner surface
203 of the ballistics-grade armor panel
201. The force supplied by the nuts
214 pressing against the inner surface
203 of the ballistics-grade armor panel
201 is configured to detachably secure the ballistics-grade armor panel
201 to the frame
218 of the vehicle or other structure.
[0026] To detach the ballistics-grade armor panel
201 from the frame
218 of the vehicle or other structure, the cam levers
215 are rotated (arrow
223) back into the disengaged position. In the disengaged position, the springs in the
quick-release skewers
211 are configured to slide the nuts
214 outward along the male members
213 and into the disengaged position (i.e., in the disengaged position, the eccentric
cams
224 on the cam levers
214 no longer force the nuts
214 outward to overcome the biasing force of the springs and thus the springs are permitted
to force the nuts
214 to slide inward into the disengaged position). As the nuts
214 slide inward into the disengaged position, the forced supplied by the nuts
214 against the inner surface
203 of the ballistics-grade panel is reduced. The male members
213 may then be unthreaded from the female members
212, such as, for example, by rotating the cam levers
215 in a counterclockwise direction. In this manner, the male members
213 may be completely disengaged from the female members
212, which enables the user to detach the ballistics-grade armor panel
201 from the frame
218 by sliding the ballistics-grade armor panel
201 inward and drawing the female members
212 out of the openings
208 and the corresponding bushings
209 in the ballistics-grade armor panel
201.
[0027] In one embodiment, the female members
212 of the quick-release skewers
211 are configured to remain affixed to the frame
218 of the vehicle or other structure, which facilitates rapid reinstallation of the
ballistics-grade armor panel
218 in the manner described above. Permanently affixing the female members
212 to the frame
218 of the vehicle or other structure also eliminates the likelihood that these components
will be dropped and lost during the process of repeatedly detaching and installing
the ballistics-grade armor panel
201 from the vehicle or other structure. However, in one or more alternate embodiments,
the female members
212 may be detached from the frame
218 of the vehicle or other structure and used, for instance, in another vehicle or structure.
[0028] With reference now to FIG. 4, another embodiment of a modular armor system
300 is illustrated. The modular armor system illustrated in FIG. 4 includes a ballistics-grade
armor panel
301 that is the same or substantially similar to the armor panel
201 described above with reference to FIGs. 3A and 3B, and therefore the ballistics-grade
armor panel
301 of FIG. 4 is not described below in order to avoid duplication. Instead, the description
below of the modular armor system
300 focuses on the differences between the quick-release mechanisms of FIG. 4 and the
quick-release mechanisms
211 of FIG. 3. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, each quick-release mechanism
is a push button pin assembly
302 including a push button pin
303 and a female member
304. The push button pin
303 is configured to detachably engage the female member
304 to secure the armor panel
301 to a frame
305 surrounding a window
306 in a vehicle or other structure and to facilitate detachment and removal of the armor
panel
301 from the frame
305 of the vehicle or other structure.
[0029] In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4, each female member
304 is a thin-walled cylindrical tube having a central opening
307. In one or more alternate embodiments, the female member
304 may have any other suitable shape, such as, for instance, a square tube or a triangular
tube. An outer end
308 of the female member
304 is coupled to the frame
305 surrounding the window
306. In one embodiment, the female member
304 may be fixedly coupled to the frame
305, such as, for instance, by welding, bonding, or mechanical fastening. In another embodiment,
the female member
304 may be detachably coupled to the frame
305. The female member
304 also includes one or more radially disposed openings
309, the significance of which is described below.
[0030] With continued reference to FIG. 4, each of the push button pins
303 includes a cylindrical shaft
310 having an inner end
311 and an outer end
312 opposite the inner end
311. Additionally, in the illustrated embodiment, each of the push button pins
303 includes a cylindrical sleeve
320 extending around the cylindrical shaft
310. The cylindrical sleeve
320 also includes one or radially disposed openings
321, the significance of which is described below. At least a portion of the cylindrical
shaft
310 and the cylindrical sleeve
320 are configured to extend through an opening
313 and a corresponding bushing
314 in the armor panel
301 and into the central opening
307 in the female member
304 coupled to the frame
305. In one or more alternate embodiments, the shaft
310 and the sleeve
320 may have any other suitable shape configured to be received in the central opening
307 of the female member
304, such as, for instance, a square post or a triangular prism.
[0031] Each push button pin
303 also includes one or more balls
315 circumferentially disposed around the shaft
310. In the illustrated embodiment, the balls
315 are proximate the outer end
312 of the shaft
310. The one or more balls
315 are configured to move between an extended position (e.g., a position in which a
portion of each of the balls
315 extends completely through the one or more openings
321 in the sleeve
320 and protrudes outward from an outer surface
322 of the sleeve
320) and a retracted position (e.g., a position in which the balls
315 are recessed such that no portion of the balls
315 protrudes outward from the outer surface
322 of the sleeve
320). In the illustrated embodiment, a thickness of a wall
323 of the sleeve
321 is smaller than a diameter of the balls
315 such that the balls
315 are configured to extend outward from the outer surface
322 of the sleeve
321 when the balls
315 are in the extended position. Additionally, in the illustrated embodiment, a diameter
of the openings
321 in the sleeve
320 is smaller than the diameter of the balls
315 such that the openings
321 are configured to retain the balls
315 (i.e., the openings
321 are sized to prevent the balls
315 from falling out through the openings
321). In the extended position, the balls
315 are configured to protrude into the openings
309 in the female member
304, thereby coupling the push button pin
303 and the female member
304 together. In the retracted position, the balls
315 are disengaged from the openings
309 in the female member
304, thereby permitting the user to detach the push button pin
303 from the female member
304 by drawing the shaft
310 and the sleeve
320 out of the central opening
307 in the female member
304, as described in more detail below. The number of balls
315 on the push button pin
303 corresponds to the number of openings
321 in the sleeve
320 and the number of openings
309 in the female member
304. In one embodiment, the push button pins
303 each have two balls
315 and the sleeve
320 and the female members
304 each have two corresponding openings
321, 309, respectively, although in one or more alternate embodiments the push button pins
303 may have any other suitable number of balls
315 and corresponding openings
321, 309.
[0032] Still referring to FIG. 4, the push button pins
303 also include a head or handle portion
316 coupled to the inner end
311 of the shaft
310. In the illustrated embodiment, the handle
316 is T-shaped, although in other embodiments the handle
316 may have any other suitable shape, such as, for instance, L-shaped or circular. It
will be appreciated that the handle portion
316 is larger than the openings in the bushings
314 such that the armor panel
301 is retained by the handles
316 on the push button pins
303. The handle
316 also includes a push button
317 configured to move the balls
315 on the outer end
312 of the shaft
310 into the retracted position (e.g., in one embodiment, the inner most end of the shaft
310 may define the push button
317). When the push button
317 is depressed (arrow
318), the shaft
310 moves in a direction toward the outer end
308 of the female member
304. As the shaft
310 moves toward the outer end
308 of the female member
304, a recess
324 in the shaft
310 becomes aligned with the balls
315 such that the balls
315 tend to fall into the recess
324 (e.g., under the force of gravity). The movement of the balls
315 into the recess
324 in the shaft
310 moves the balls
315 into the retracted position in which the balls
315 are disengaged from the one or more openings
309 in the female member
304. When the balls
315 are disengaged from the openings
309 in the female member
304, a user may detach the push button pin
303 from the female member
304, and thereby detach the ballistics-grade armor panel
301 from the frame
305, by withdrawing the shaft
310 and the sleeve
320 out of the central opening
307 in the female member
304. When the push button
317 on the handle
316 is released, a spring mechanism
319 is configured to bias the push button
317 and the shaft
310 to move in a direction away from the outer end
308 of the female member
304. As the shaft
310 moves away from the outer end
308 of the female member
304, the recess
324 in the shaft
310 moves out of alignment with the balls
315 such that the balls
315 are forced out of the recess
324 in the shaft
310. When the push button pin
303 is inserted into the opening
307 in the female member
304 such that the balls
315 are aligned with the openings
309 in the female member
304, the movement of the balls
315 out of the recess
324 in the shaft
310 causes the balls
315 to return to the extended position in which the balls
315 extend into the openings
309 in the female member
304. The extension of the balls
315 into the openings
309 in the female member
304 detachably couples the ballistics-grade armor panel
301 to the frame
305.
[0033] To removably attach the armor panel
301 illustrated in FIG. 4 to the frame
305 of the vehicle or other structure, the outer ends
308 of the female members
304 are first coupled to the frame
305 surrounding the window
306 by any suitable means, such as, for instance, mechanical fastening, welding, bonding,
or any combination thereof. The ballistics-grade armor panel
301 is then positioned such that at least a portion of the female members
304 extend into the openings
313 and corresponding bushings
314 in the ballistics-grade armor panel
301. The push buttons
317 on the push button pins
303 are then depressed (arrow
318) to move the balls
315 into the retracted position and then the push button pins
303 are inserted into the openings
313 and the bushings
314 in the armor panel
301 and into the central openings
307 in the female members
304. Once the push button pins
303 are sufficiently inserted into the female members
304 such that the balls
315 on the push button pins
303 are aligned with the openings
309 in the female members
304, the push buttons
317 may be released such that the springs
319 force the balls
315 into the extended position in which the balls
315 engage the openings
309 in the female members
304. Alternatively, the user may release the push button
317 once the balls
315 have entered the central opening
307 in the female member
304 and then slide the shaft
310 and the sleeve
320 toward the outer end
308 of the female member
304 until the balls
315 are aligned with the openings
309 in the female member
304, at which point the biasing force of the spring
319 will force the balls
315 into the extended position in which the balls
315 engage the openings
309 in the female member
304.
[0034] To detach the armor panel
301 from the frame
305 of the vehicle or other structure, the user depresses (arrow
318) the push buttons
317 on the handles
316 such that the balls
315 move into the retracted position in which the balls
315 are recessed in the recesses
324 of the shafts
310 of the push button pins
303. In the retracted position, the balls
315 are disengaged from the openings
309 in the female members
304. The user then draws the push button pins
303 out of the central openings
307 in the female members
304 and out of the bushings
314 in the openings
313 in the armor panel
301. Finally, the armor panel
301 may be detached from the frame
305 of the vehicle or other structure by pulling the armor panel
301 away from the window
306 such that the female members
304 are withdrawn from the openings
313 and corresponding bushings
314 in the armor panel
301. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4, the female members
304 may remain affixed to the frame
305 of the vehicle or other structure, which facilitates rapid reinstallation of the
ballistics-grade armor panel
301 in the manner described above. In one or more alternate embodiments, the female members
303 may be detached from the frame
305 of the vehicle or other structure and used, for instance, in another vehicle or structure.
[0035] With reference now to FIG. 5, another embodiment of a modular armor system
400 is illustrated. The modular armor system
400 illustrated in FIG. 5 includes a ballistics-grade armor panel
401 that is the same or substantially similar to the armor panel
11 described above with reference to FIGs. 1A and 1B. The modular armor system
400 also includes a plurality of quick-release mechanisms
402 configured to detachably couple the armor panel
401 to a frame
403 surrounding a window
404 in a vehicle or other structure. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the quick-release
mechanisms are push-to-open grab latches
402.
[0036] Still referring to FIG. 5, each push-to-open grab latch
402 includes a knob bracket
405 configured to be coupled to the frame
403 surrounding the window
404 and a latch assembly
406 coupled to the armor panel
401. In an alternate embodiment, the knob bracket
405 may be coupled to the armor panel
401 and the latch assembly
406 may be coupled to the frame
403. The latch assembly
406 is configured to detachably engage the knob bracket
405 to secure the armor panel
401 to the frame
403 of the vehicle or other structure and facilitate detachment and removal of the armor
panel
401 from the frame
403 of the vehicle or other structure. The modular armor system
400 may include any suitable number of push-to-open grab latches
402, such as, for instance, two to ten, or even more than ten, and the latch assemblies
406 may be disposed along one or more of the edges of the armor panel
401. For instance, in one embodiment, two latch assemblies
406 are disposed along each of an upper edge and a lower edge of the armor panel
401.
[0037] In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 5, the knob bracket
405 includes a base plate
407, a post
408 projecting inward from the base plate
407, and a knob
409 on a free end of the post
408. In one embodiment, the base plate
407 on the knob bracket
405 may include a plurality of openings configured to receive fasteners (not shown) coupling
the knob bracket
405 to the frame
403 surrounding the window
404. In an alternate embodiment, the base plate
407 of the knob bracket
405 may be provided without openings, and the knob bracket
405 may be coupled to the frame
403 by any other suitable means, such as, for instance, bonding or welding.
[0038] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the latch assemblies
406 each include a pair of opposing jaws
410, 411 configured to move between an open position (shown in dashed lines) and a closed
position (shown in solid lines). In the closed position, the jaws
410, 411 are configured to clamp around the knob
409 on the free end of the knob bracket
405, thereby releasably coupling the armor panel
401 to the frame
403 surrounding the window
404. In the open position, the jaws
410, 411 on the latch assembly
406 are disengaged from the knob bracket
405, thereby permitting the user to detach and remove the armor panel
401 from the frame
403 of the vehicle or other structure. The latch assemblies
406 each also include a spring-loaded release
412 disposed between the jaws
410, 411. The spring-loaded release
412 is configured to alternately move the jaws
410, 411 between the open and closed positions, as described in more detail below.
[0039] To removably attach the armor panel
401 illustrated in FIG. 5 to the frame
403 of the vehicle or other structure, the knob brackets
405 are first coupled to the frame
403 surrounding the window
404 by any suitable means, such as, for instance, mechanical fastening, welding, bonding,
or any combination thereof. The armor panel
401 is then positioned such that the knobs
409 on the free ends of the knob brackets
405 press against the spring-loaded releases
412 on the latch assemblies
406. As the knobs
409 press against the spring-loaded releases
412, the jaws
410, 411 are configured to move into the closed position and clamp around the knobs
409 on the knob brackets
405.
[0040] To detach the armor panel
401 from the frame
403 of the vehicle or other structure, the user presses (arrow
413) the armor panel
401 outward (i.e., toward the window
404) such that the knobs
409 on the free ends of the knob brackets
405 press against the spring-loaded releases
412 on the latch assemblies
406. As the knobs
409 press against the spring-loaded releases
412, the jaws
410, 411 on the latch assemblies
406 move into the open position (shown in dashed lines in FIG. 5) and disengage the knobs
409. The user may then detach the armor panel
401 from the frame
403 of the vehicle or other structure by pulling the armor panel
401 away from the window
404. In one embodiment, the knob brackets
406 of the push-to-open grab latches
402 remain affixed to the frame
403 of the vehicle or other structure, which facilitates rapid reinstallation of the
ballistics-grade armor panel
401 in the manner described above. In one or more alternate embodiments, the knob brackets
405 may be detached from the frame
403 of the vehicle or other structure and used, for instance, in another vehicle or structure.
[0041] Additionally, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the armor panel
401 is configured to be released from the frame
403 only by pressing (arrow
413) the armor panel
401 in a direction opposite to the direction of the force imparted on the armor panel
401 by a ballistic strike (i.e., the armor panel
401 is configured to be detached by pressing the armor panel
401 outward toward the window
404, whereas ballistic projectiles may strike an outer strike face
414 of the armor panel
401, thereby imparting an inward force on the armor panel
401). Accordingly, the push-to-open grab latches
402 are configured not to move into the open, detached position when the outer strike
surface
414 of the armor panel
401 is struck by a projectile. Otherwise, the armor panel
401 might become inadvertently detached from the frame
403 on the vehicle or other structure during a ballistic strike, which may compromise
the safety of individuals inside the vehicle or other structure.
[0042] With reference now to FIG. 6, a modular armor system
500 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is configured to be detachably
coupled to a windshield
501 of a vehicle
502 (e.g., an armored vehicle). In the illustrated embodiment, the modular armor system
500 is configured to protect the windshield
501 against damage from foreign object debris ("F.O.D."), such as, for instance, a rock
or other debris (e.g., loose fasteners on the ground). For instance, when the vehicle
500 is travelling in a convoy over rough terrain, vehicles in front of the vehicle
500 will tend to propel F.O.D. (e.g., rocks) at a high rate of speed toward the trailing
vehicle's windshield
501. The modular armor system
500 is configured to protect the windshield
501 of the vehicle
502 against such impacts, thereby avoiding the costs and time associated with replacing
the vehicle's windshield
501.
[0043] With continued reference to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the modular armor
system
500 includes a transparent armor panel
503 having an outer strike surface
504 and an inner surface
505 opposite the outer strike surface
504. The modular armor system
500 also includes at least one attachment mechanism configured to detachably couple the
transparent armor panel
503 to the vehicle
502. In the illustrated embodiment, the attachment mechanism includes a hook or loop fastening
mechanism
506 bonded to the inner surface
505 of the armor panel
503 with a layer of adhesive
507. The adhesive layer
507 may be any suitable type of adhesive, such as, for instance, a thermoplastic or thermoset
material (e.g., an aliphatic polyurethane sheet). The thermoplastic or thermoset adhesive
layer
507 is configured to laminate the hook or loop fastening mechanism
506 to the ballistic-grade armor panel
503 when subject to elevated temperatures and pressures in an autoclave lamination process
or any other suitable process. Although in the illustrated embodiment the hook or
loop fastening mechanism
506 extends completely around a periphery of the inner surface
505 of the armor panel
503, in one or more alternate embodiments, the hook or loop fastening mechanism
506 may be located any other suitable location or locations on the armor panel
503 and/or may be a plurality of discrete hook or loop fastening mechanisms
506, rather than a single, continuous hook or loop fastening mechanism
506.
[0044] The hook or loop fastening mechanism
506 on the armor panel
503 is configured to be detachably coupled to a corresponding loop or hook mechanism
508 coupled to the vehicle. In the illustrated embodiment, the corresponding loop or
hook mechanism
508 coupled to the vehicle
502 extends around an outer periphery of each of the vehicle's windshields
501. For instance, in one embodiment, the corresponding loop or hook mechanism
508 is coupled to metallic retainer frames surrounding the windshields
501. In one or more alternate embodiments, the corresponding loop or hook mechanism
508 may be directly coupled to the windshields
501 of the vehicle
502. The corresponding loop or hook mechanism
508 may be coupled to the vehicle
502 (e.g., the vehicle's windshields
501 or the retainer frames surrounding the windshields
501) by any suitable mechanism, such as, for instance, with a layer of adhesive and/or
with mechanical fasteners. The engagement between the hook and loop fastening mechanisms
506, 508 on the transparent armor panel
503 and the vehicle
502 is configured to facilitate removal of the armor panel
503 from the vehicle
502, such as, for instance, when the vehicle
502 is not in use or when the vehicle
502 does not require protection against F.O.D. strikes. In one embodiment, the hook and
loop type fastening mechanisms
506, 508 may be the same or similar the hook and loop fastening members
18, 20 described above with reference to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
[0045] In the illustrated embodiment, the armor panel
503 is a rectangular prism having a pair of opposing sides
509, 510 and a pair of opposing upper and lower sides
511, 512, although in one or more alternate embodiments the armor panel
503 may have any other suitable shape. Additionally, in the illustrated embodiment, the
shape of the armor panels
503 may match or substantially match the shape of the windshields
501 on the vehicle
502. Accordingly, in one embodiment, when the modular armor systems
500 are coupled to the vehicle
502, the transparent armor panels
503 cover all or substantially all of the windshields
501 of the vehicle
502. In one or more alternate embodiments, the transparent armor panel
503 may have any other suitable shape depending, for instance, on the shape of the windshields
501 of the vehicle
502. In one or more alternate embodiments, the armor panels
503 may not match the shape and/or size of the windshields
501 of the vehicle
502. Additionally, in one embodiment, when the modular armor systems
500 are coupled to the vehicle
502, the inner surfaces
505 of the transparent armor panels
503 may contact outer surfaces
513 of the windshields
501 or may be spaced apart from the outer surfaces
513 of the windshields
501.
[0046] The transparent armor panel
503 may be composed of any suitable material configured to absorb and/or deflect the
kinetic energy associated with a F.O.D. strike, such as, for instance, glass, interlayer,
acrylic, polycarbonate, transparent plastic, transparent ceramic, ionomers, ionoplasts,
or any combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the transparent armor panel
503 may be a transparent plastic available from PPG Industries, Inc. under the trade
name Opticor TM. In one embodiment, the transparent armor panel
503 may be formed from any transparent and generally craze-resistant material. Additionally,
the armor panel
503 may have any suitable thickness
T depending on the desired ballistics protection rating of the modular armor system
500. For instance, in one embodiment, the thickness
T of the armor panel
503 may be from approximately 0.060 inch to approximately 0.37 inch. In another embodiment,
the thickness
T of the armor panel
503 may be from approximately 0.060 inch to approximately 0.137 inch. In one embodiment,
the thickness
T of the armor panel
503 may be from approximately 0.122 inch to approximately 0.37 inch. Additionally, the
material and thickness
T of the transparent armor panel
503 may be selected such that the transparent armor panel
503 is configured to satisfy any desired ballistics protection standard, such as, for
instance, one or more ballistics standards promulgated by NIJ, HOSDB, STANAG, UL,
EuroNorm, VPAM, or any custom level of ballistics protection.
[0047] Embodiments of the transparent armor panel
503 of the present disclosure were tested in accordance with ballistics standard ATPD
2352T. In one embodiment, an armor panel
503 composed of transparent plastic having a thickness
T ranging from approximately 0.122 inch to approximately 0.37 inch, a width
W of approximately 6 inches, and a height
H of approximately 6 inches, withstood eleven impacts in the same or substantially
the same location from a 12 mm SiN ball traveling at a velocity ranging from approximately
106 feet per second (fps) and approximately 153 fps. An embodiment of the armor panel
503 composed of transparent plastic having a thickness T of approximately 0.060 inch,
a width
W of approximately 6 inches, and a height
H of approximately 6 inches, withstood eleven impacts in the same or substantially
the same location from a 12 mm SiN ball traveling at a velocity ranging from approximately
106 fps and approximately 125 fps.
[0048] In one embodiment, the modular armor system
500 may include a high-modulus thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) layer coupled to the
inner surface
505 of the armor panel
503. In one embodiment, when the modular armor system
500 is detachably coupled to the vehicle
502, the TPU layer abuts or contacts the outer surfaces
513 of the windshields
501 of the vehicle
502. The contact between the windshields
501 and the TPU layers on the modular armor systems
500 is configured to mitigate optical distortions (e.g., haloing) due to the presence
of the transparent armor panel
503. The TPU layer may be coupled to the armor panel
503 by subjecting the TPU layer and the armor panel
503 to an elevated temperature and pressure in an autoclave lamination process or any
other suitable process. In another embodiment, the armor panel
503 may be pre-laminated with the TPU layer.
[0049] Although in the illustrated embodiment the modular armor system
500 includes corresponding hook and loop type fastening mechanisms
506, 508 for detachably coupling the armor panel
503 to the vehicle
502, in one or more alternate embodiments, the modular armor system
500 may include any other suitable type of mechanisms for detachably coupling the armor
panel
503 to the vehicle
502, such as, for instance, one or more mechanisms that are the same or similar to one
of the quick-release mechanisms
211, 302 described above with reference to the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and
4.
[0050] While this invention has been described in detail with particular references to exemplary
embodiments thereof, the exemplary embodiments described herein are not intended to
be exhaustive or to limit the scope of the invention to the exact forms disclosed.
Persons skilled in the art and technology to which this invention pertains will appreciate
that alterations and changes in the described structures and methods of assembly and
operation can be practiced without departing from the scope of this invention, as
set forth in the following claims. Although relative terms such as "outer," "inner,"
"upper," "lower," "below," and "above," and similar terms have been used herein to
describe a spatial relationship of one element to another, it is understood that these
terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the various elements and
components of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures.